Susan Brewer, the renowned doll expert and author of British Dolls of the 1950s guides us through the exciting decade of the 1960s which saw dolls bedecked in fashionable clothes by top designers, including Sally Tuffin who created the clothes for Sindy and has written the foreword for this book.

The books starts with a history of dolls, showing how they have progressed over time from the Seventeenth Century when they became fashionable, through different materials including wood, wax and composite, to the heady days ofrnthe 1960s when the first rock and roll dolls were created, a time when Beatlemania was turned into highly collectable dolls, including the strange-looking squeezy doll by Rosebud (see back cover), Remco's nodders and Pelham's marionettes.rnrnSusan sets the dolls in the context of their day from the fashionable clothes and looks of the teen dolls to the influence of top models including Twiggy, major films and television series such as The Avengers, Thunderbirds and Dr Kildare. She reveals which dolls are worth collecting and why, discussing the most important dolls and manufacturers of the 1960s, such as those made by Pedigree, Chiltern Palitoy, Roddy, Rosebud, Amanda Jane and Faerie Glen. In addition to focusing on the main and smaller British doll manufacturers, Susan also addresses American dolls which were made or marketed by American companies at British factories to take advantage of the huge demand for their products, including Barbie (seen as too 'vulgar' for the British market), Flatsy, Thumbelina and Giggles. As well as advice on what to collect, Susan gives tips on the care and cleaning of 1960s dolls, including how spot cream can offer a miracle curernfor stained dolls! There is also a useful directory of doll museums and hospitals.

This beautifully illustrated book is a must for doll collectors, dealers and all women who grew up in the 1960s and were lucky enough to have a special doll – which could now be worth a fortune.

In this book author Susan Brewer guides us through the exciting decade of the 1960s which saw dolls bedecked in fashionable clothes by top designers.

Antiques Diary

The sixties saw the advent of the Beatles, the Great Train Robbery, the first supermodel Twiggy and England's World Cup win. Vinyl had replaced the hard plastic of the fifties and American barbie dolls moved the market on towards 'Teen Dolls', role models with a style that young girls could aspire to. Dolls were almost all white with blonde hair. The British Mattel Twiggy Doll, based on barbie's friend Casey, had short, straight hair and heavy eye-makeup. Other trademarks were Pedigree, Palitoy, Faerie Glen, Roddy and Rosebud. The rosebud teen doll was a dainty model with strappy high heels, but soon Pedigree's 12-inch Sindy doll swept the market. British girls liked a tomboy, and Palitoy also introduced the first Action Man in 1966. Meanwhile, the baby doll market was expanding with models like Palitoy's Tiny Tears who could cry when pressed. The final chapter includes advice on collecting and preserving your vintage dolls. 239pp, colour and archive photos.

Bibliophile Dec 2012

Anyone who was a child in the 1960s will undoubtedly recall the numerous rock and roll dolls that hit the shelves that decade and, particularly, the influence that they had on the fashion industry and its models - Twiggy, for example. This book not only covers the dolls in the situation of the 60s, but also delves into the history of the doll; how it has developed over the years in terms of the materials used, and their 'collectable' statuses. The author also takes a look at American dolls which were produced by American companies within Britain to satisfy the mass demand for products, such as Barbie. Filled with beautiful illustrations and engaging text, this book is sure to please those with an interest in collectables, or those simply wishing to take a trip down memory lane.

EJH

This beautifully illustrated book is a must for doll collectors, dealers and all women who grew up in the 1960s and were lucky enough to have a special doll - which could now be worth a small fortune.

Antiques Diary

About Susan Brewer

Susan is a renowned collectables author and columnist and lives in Harlow, Essex. She grew up in Welwyn Garden City.